Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-07-16
THE EXCURSION.

Since good long while it has been
spoken of
Some sunday We shall all go TO the
country says father. one evening
viii it he next Sunday, papa
"Ohl no. Of course not The weather
is too unsettled vet"
But when will it be, papa
Later on, later onr'
Weeks, months, sometimes even years
fly by, and the famous excursion is still
but IA project. Ii is not forgotten, how
ever, and is frequently mentioned to the
neighbors, who feel awfully put out be-
cause they cannot join the party, and who
hope neVerthelcsS--Pe Perhapsl Who
knows! so many strange things hap
pen!
The projected trip is spoken of at home
and abroad. at breakfast and at dinner,
at night and in the morning, during the
day while retailing calico or molasses;
sleeping, it is the only dream; waking, it
is the single topic OF conversation.
At last the day is definitely fixed. 1t
will be next Sunday week
What happiness The little ones can
, think Of nothing else. Every spare
moment is spent looking at the almanac,
from ,chich they daily erase, frequently
/ twice instead of once the DAYS that come
before the one 50 impatiently expected.
Ten days more, Three days yeti 'Tis
tomorrow
The shop is closed early. supper
swallowed hurriedly, and all busy tLlm-
selves with their little arrangements, pro
vided for long since, and still unfinished
! OF course there has always to he some
/ thing forgotten; ribbon, pair of
/ trousers. a basque.
And that waSherw0man who does not
/ show up What can she lie thinking of
/ Go 10 the country without white panta-
/ looms! Why, one might rs well expect to
! 60 without "A straw hat There surely can
| he no fun unless one has on white pauta-
/ looms and straw hat Every pleasure
| sports its own livery.
| A hunter without leggings and game
( bag Is no hunter, even though he has not
taken a single step through newly plowed
/ fields OF shot single partridge, killed a
single rabbit.
Father, i'll a fury, says that the jaunt
will not take place. Mother intercedes
"Now, my dear, You have other panta-
looms The sobbing children beg pitt
fully. NO! say nor
All. but here is the washerwoman
l'tlih bcb. All tue amen Is examined.
Every piece spread out ostentatiously on
the furniture, looks 50 spruce and engag
ing each ones portion being carefully set
apart. What a charming picturel
No general reviewing his command has
ever assumed "A more triumphant air than
does papa, as he contemplates the suit he
J. 10 wear on the morrow. The children
cry out n ecstasy and are with difficulty
prevented from parting on their clean
clothes at once.
And mother! Though she does not
make as much fuss as others, she is very
busy, nevertheless, and Yet she is not the
least happy member of the family
Not only has she to look after what con-
Germs her personally, but the cares Of the
whole family are upon her shoulders She
pulls out drawers. closes them again.
packs up boxes, fixes and unfiNes, rum
images in every corner, sits down n min
ute Ia sew on a button or take in a hem,
then undertakes something else. Nothing
is missing! Yes, indeed there is! Oh,
my Godl what shall do AT this late hour
A very necessary lace is wanting. and be-
sides there is Il collar and "A pair OF stock
ings that have not been washed.
A hurried visit to Il neighboring shop.
IL.
the needed lace is supplied The collar
and the stockings are washed and roned,
while The gaping youngsters, with sleepy
eyes, are always stumbling over mammals
feet, getting in her way rs they try to
help her
Father looks at the barometer a last
time and goes of to bed. He is soon snor-
ing like a porpoise, arousing himself occa-
sionally To call out to mother:
Il say what are you doing? won't you
ever get through fiddling about therey''
I'm soon be through, dear" replies
she, keeping on in her quiet, demure way.
No, she has not finished. Her task
never seems 10 end. The clothes are all
ready, that is something, great deal in
fact, but the next thing is the looking af-
ter the provisions, and that in itself is no
small job.
Last time, fathers brandy flask was left
behind, and he grTmbled about il all day
long. Heaven grant that nothing be for
gotten this time TO mar their holiday.
In fact, the poor w0man's eyelids feel
very heavy; she no longer sees distinctly.
She does not complain, though at times
she cannot help thinking it would be far
more pleasant to be in bed, alongside of
that other one SO comfortably stretched
ont in all his dignity. All men, what
selfish creatures You are.
Well, never mindl people don't 90 ont
TO amuse themselves every day, SO keep
up your courage a little while longer.
The paSty, the cold meat, the ham, the
anchoyies, the cake, all are here. So is
the wine. The coffee, too--there now
and the mustard. just think, we were
poinu Wifhont mustard What a rnyv
father would have raised. he who will not
take hit Of meat, unless there is mus
tard Oh it,
Al lastl all is ready. Phewi
Mother now slips into bed. The little
ones, cuddled up in the blanket, have
been asleep for mure than an hour. In
short while the whole family is in a sound
sleep
Dingl Dingi the little clock, placed on
the marble top table at the bedside TO
make matters doubly sure, springs its
noisy alarm at O'Clock.
Come, children! Get up get upl
With stretching arms and yawning
mouths, all dress themselves noisily. One
complains that his shoes pinch, another
finds his shirt too stiff with stavch, while
IA { ird declares that her corset incom-
modes her.
Pshaw! don't mind that, it will be all
right in a little while.
Luckily the weather is splendid A
vivid ray of sunshine, glinting in through
the window curtains, puts an end TO all
complaints and thoroughly awakens those
who still feel drowsy. Father has quite
a majestic look with his white pantaloons